Teleworking and health in an epidemic context: contrasting the infectious and non-communicable diseases perspectives

Abstract

AbstractThe global response to the COVID-19 pandemic has brought a significant shift towards teleworking. While this escalating practice can reduce the risk of infection for workers, its societal and health impact also encompasses non-communicable diseases (NCDs). However, the link between teleworking frequency and NCD risk is unclear. In this study, we aimed to unravel the intricate interplay between teleworking, infectious disease (ID) transmission, and NCD risk, to quantify how these factors could affect a potential optimal teleworking frequency with regards to health outcomes.First, we conducted a rapid review to identify possible exposure-response relationships between teleworking and the risk of NCDs such as musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) or mental health. Then, we designed a mathematical model of the transmission of ID and the acquisition of NCD in a medium-sized company to illustrate how varying levels of teleworking can impact workers health. We simulated infection dynamics over a three-month epidemic wave, considering that employees could be infected by the virus either within the workplace or outside it. On weekdays, employees were either physically present at the workplace, with potential exposure to infectious colleagues, or engaged in telework, facing a reduced community-based risk. We compared the results obtained by our model when using different teleworking frequencies and exposure-response functions, to contrast both ID and NCD risks in relation to the extent of telework engagement.From the literature, we found diverging evidence for the shape of the exposure-response relationship indicating that, depending on the NCD considered, the risk incurred by teleworking may peak at either low, intermediate or high teleworking frequency. Depending on the chosen shape of this relationship and frequency of teleworking, we observed an individual and collective benefit-risk balance between a reduction in ID transmission and a potentially increased burden of NCD.By acknowledging the dual facets of both infectious and non-communicable health outcomes, our study emphasises the need for a holistic approach when formulating strategies for ID prevention, ensuring that the societal and health impacts of such interventions are comprehensively assessed.